Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates Black Music Month with Dionne Warwick Legends Series program + Rock and Soul Festival

CLEVELAND (June 12, 2013) – To celebrate Black Music Month, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to offer two free community events: a Legends Series interview with one of America's greatest singers, Dionne Warwick, on Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. in the Rock Hall’s Foster Theater and the 16th annual Rock and Soul Festival on Sunday, June 30 at Noon on the Main Stage.

Dionne Warwick will be interviewed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Vice President of Education and Public Programs, Dr. Lauren Onkey. Questions will be taken from the audience at the end of the Legends Series interview. This event is free with a reservation, however seating is limited. RSVPs will be accepted for Rock Hall Members starting at 10 a.m. EST on Monday, June 17. The general public can make reservations beginning on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 a.m. ET. Limit is two RSVPs per person. Visit http://tickets.rockhall.com or in-person at the Rock Hall Box Office to sign-up to attend this event. This event will be live streamed on rockhall.com.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will host the 16th annual Rock and Soul Festival, presented by KeyBank, from Noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 30. The general public is invited to attend this FREE concert. No RSVPs are necessary.

The Rock and Soul Festival is a celebration of African American music. The vitality of Black influence on American music and culture has been irresistible; its impact, profound and lasting. This soulful festival features performances by national and local artists and coincides with Black Music Month. Artists performing include Marilyn Oliver, Amy Jo Scott, Cassandra Stewart and Inspire *1* One.

About Dionne WarwickDionne Warwick’s career has spanned more than 48 years, establishing her as an international music legend. She has earned more than sixty charted hits and sold over 100 million records. She began singing professionally in 1961 after being discovered by a young songwriting team, Burt Bacharach and Hal David. She had her first hit in 1962 with “Don’t Make Me Over.” By 1970, she had racked up more than 18 consecutive Top 100 singles, including her classic Bacharach/David recordings, “Walk on By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Message to Michael,” “Promises, Promises,” “A House is Not a Home,” “Alfie,” and the theme from “The Valley of the Dolls.”

Ms. Warwick received her first Grammy Award in 1968 for her classic “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and a second Grammy Award in 1970 for the best-selling album, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” In 1974, she hit the top of the charts with “Then Came You,” a million-selling duet with The Spinners. In 1976, Arista Records label-mate Barry Manilow produced her first Platinum-selling album, “Dionne,” which included the back-to-back hits “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” and “Déjà vu.” Both recordings earned Grammy Awards, making Ms. Warwick the first female artist to win the Best Female Pop and Best Female R&B Performance awards.

Ms. Warwick’s 1982 album, “Heartbreaker,” co-produced by Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees, became an international chart-topper. In 1985, she reunited with producer Burt Bacharach and longtime friends Gladys Knight, Steve Wonder and Elton John to record the landmark song “That’s What Friends Are For,” which became a number one hit record around the world and the first recording dedicated to raising awareness and major funds for the AIDS cause, which Ms. Warwick continually supports.

Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Ms. Warwick collaborated with many of her musical peers, including Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, Kashif and Stevie Wonder. Most recently, she recorded an album of duets, “My Friends and Me,” (Concord Records) and a much anticipated Gospel album, “Why We Sing,” (Rhino Records). She is currently finishing a new album of the music of legendary composer Sammy Cahn. Most recently, Ms. Warwick added “author” to her list of credits with a best-selling children’s book, “Say A Little Prayer.”

Always one to give back, Ms. Warwick has supported and campaigned for a number of causes and charities near to her heart, including AIDS, The Starlight Foundation, children’s hospitals, world hunger, disaster relief and music education, for which she has raised millions of dollars. A New Jersey school was named in her honor, The Dionne Warwick Institute in recognition of her support and accomplishments.

16th Annual Rock and Soul Festival LineupMarilyn Oliver, an Akron native, has music in her blood: she’s the great niece of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Muddy Waters. She began singing blues music at a young age, learned to play the piano and inspired her father to form a family band. The Relatively Jammin’ Blues Band has opened up for Aretha Franklin, Ringo Starr and the Dazz band to name a few. She has since been dubbed “Akron’s Own Queen of the Blues.”

Amy Jo Scott is the daughter of a church pastor and was inspired at a young age to sing as a way to worship. She has three independent albums, writes her own songs and varies her style depending on the musicians she’s collaborated with over the years. Ms. Scott has a powerful vocal range but is not afraid to showcase her softer style of singing.

Cassandra Stewart was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio. Singing since she was three, she comes from a long line of singers going back several generations. Cassandra has released three singles, the latest titled “Come Alive” which sends a powerful message about overcoming adversity. She is set to release her sophomore album “Arise” later this year.

The group Inspire *1* One is comprised of a group of Cleveland School of the Arts students led by Malcolm Hyneman. Hyneman has performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum with the Antioch Spiritual Arts Choir as a drummer and also for the Rock Your World concert with Cleveland School of the Arts band prior to graduating this year. He sang bass in Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection symphony at Severance Hall. He is a multi-instrumentalist who performs on keyboard, piano, drums, tenor sax and is also an accomplished vocalist. He plans to attend Tri-C for two years before transferring to Berkley.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has FREE educational offerings year round. Additional adult education programs include From Songwriters to Soundmen: The People Behind the Hits, which gives audiences an inside look at aspects of the music business that are often concealed from view, and Rock and Roll Night School, which gives interested adults the opportunity to expand their rock and roll-related knowledge.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays (and Saturdays through Labor Day), the Museum is open until 9 p.m. Museum admission is $22 for adults, $18 for adult residents of Greater Cleveland, $17 for seniors (65+), $13 for youth (9-12), children under 8 and Museum Members are always free, for information or to join the membership program call 216.515.8425. For general inquiries, please call 216.781.ROCK(7625) or visit www.rockhall.com . The Museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.